s, she had said nothing about it to Betty.

"Well, Nanna? I expect Mrs. Tosswill has told you that Mr. Radmore is
coming to-day, and that he's to have George's room."

Nanna nodded. "It's quite ready, Miss Betty. I went in there yesterday
afternoon while you was all out. He'll find everything there just as he
left it. Eh, dear, I do mind how those dear boys loved their stamps and
butterflies."

Betty sighed, a sharp, quick sigh. After calling Jack she had thought of
going into the room which had been her brother's and Godfrey's joint room
in the long, long ago. And then she had decided that she couldn't bear to
do so. The room had never been slept in since George had spent his last
happy leave for now there was never any occasion to put a visitor in what
was still called by Nanna "Master George's room."

"I expect he'll arrive for tea," said Betty, "and I was wondering whether
we couldn't make one of those big seed cakes he and George used to be so
fond of."

"That's provided for, too," said Nanna quietly.

And then, all at once, almost as though she were compelled to do so by
something outside herself, Betty went across the kitchen and threw her
arms round her old nurse's neck and kissed her.

"There, there," said Nanna soothingly, "do you mind much, my dearie!"

"No, I don't think I do." Betty winked away the tears. "It's George I'm
really thinking of, Nanna."

"But the dear lad is in the Kingdom of the Blessed, my dear. You wouldn't
have him back--surely?"

"Not if he's really happier where he is," said the girl, "but oh, Nanna,
it's so hard to believe that." She went across to the big old-fashioned
kitchen range, and poured the boiling water into a little silver teapot.
Then she took the tray to her step-mother's room.

Next she went down into the drawing-room--she always "did" that room
while Nanna laid the breakfast with the help of the village girl who,
although she was supposed to come in at seven, very seldom turned up
till eight. And then, while Betty was carefully dusting the quaint,
old-fashioned Staffordshire figures on the mantelpiece, the door opened,
and Nanna came in and shut it behind her. "There isn't any wine," she
began mysteriously. "Gentlemen do like a little drop of wine after their
dinner."

"I think what father and Jack can do without, Mr. Radmore can do without,
too," said Betty. For the first time her colour heightened. "In any case,
I don't see how we can get anything fit to dr